Today's passage: 1 Chronicles 29:1-30

Helpful thoughts:

• Everything we have belongs to the Lord.  When we give, we get to give from what He has granted us to steward with joyful willing hearts.
• Solomon is called the Lord's ruler/prince and sat upon the Lord's Throne (Verses 22-23).  This continues to confirm that everything we have belongs to God, and that any leader leads only whom God has given them to steward.
• David's desire for Solomon was that he would follow the Lord with an undivided heart (Verse 19).  As we pursue the Lord whole-heartedly, we progressively become the kind of people who serve and lead with greater and greater excellence.  Leadership, service, and lifestyle are not characteristics or skills that exist outside of our relationship with God.

Questions to consider:

1. While we might have been amazed to see all those precious metals and stones, how does David set about correcting our perspective on what is the greatest value and worth in the universe?  What are this world's greatest possessions to our Creator God?
2. None of us have yet achieved perfectly undivided love and loyalty to the Lord.  But, by God's grace, as we grow in this, what present issues or concerns in your life would look different, would you fear less, etc. as you grow in your whole-hearted love for God?
3. What do the truths of verses 11 and 12 call on all mankind to do?  Since God is head above all and the ruler and owner of all things, how must we live?  Why are these truths so critical to our understanding of our need for the gospel?  Why did Jesus have to die?  How did God respond to our failure to acknowledge Him for who He is?

Today's passage: 1 Chronicles 28:1-21

Helpful thoughts:

• King David is charging his son Solomon to serve God and Israel faithfully as the next king, and to build the Temple.  In order to ensure everyone knows the plan, he invited every official, even the Secretaries of Donkeys and Olive Oil.
• In David's speech, he acknowledges God's will in choosing the line of Judah (Genesis 49:10), himself, Solomon, and the promise of God to have a king on the throne forever (Christ).
• Nearly every detail of the Temple was envisioned and meticulously planned by David.  Solomon's job was to realize the vision.
  • David knew the weight of this duty, and the size and scope.  There was a reason he encouraged his son to be strong and courageous.

Questions to consider:

1. What was the reasoning David gave Solomon to have courage?  Why didn't Solomon need to fear? (Verse 20)  What fears might you struggle with that would flee with the realities of our God firmly in your mind?
2. What do you think would have been going through Solomon's mind during this occasion?  What instructions might have seemed daunting?  What would he have thought about the presence of all these people during his instruction?  What sense of duty and responsibility would he have had?  Why was it only right for him to rely on God for it all and to work together with God's people to see the work through to the end?
3. How could we take these thoughts and lessons and apply them to God's calling on our lives to fulfill the Great Commission?  Why can we be sure of the mission's success?  Who are we to work together with to accomplish it?  What must be our motivation?

Today's passage: 1 Chronicles 27:1-34

Helpful thoughts:

• Today's chapter moves away from the Temple duties and onto military and government.
  • In these roles, we see men who served as regional governors over the tribes, and men who served in ways similar to a president's cabinet today.  Except instead of a Secretary of Education or Defense, David had a Secretary of Donkeys, and Olive Oil (Maybe they had fancier names for it than those).
• The regular military force consisted of 288,000 men who served for one month per year (24,000 at a time) on active duty.  In war-time, the number of troops could increase.
• The data that was accumulated through David's sinful census was not kept.  Part of David's repentance was to make things right by discarding the information.  God had made a promise, they didn't need the information gathered.

Questions to consider:

1. How do these chapters in 1 Chronicles help us to see the bigger picture of what it took to lead the nation of Israel?  Was King David just one guy running a country?  What does good leadership over other people require?
2. What can we learn as well concerning the intelligence of man?  We may have more technology these days, but were people any less intelligent back then?  Whose intelligent inventions and work, whose models of government continue to be built upon by every successive generation?
3. How is the absence of the census information a sign of David's repentance?  What happens when a person truly repents?  What is the fruit? (2 Corinthians 7:10-11)

Today's passage: 1 Chronicles 26:1-32

Helpful thoughts:

• The gatekeepers' responsibilities at the Temple are recorded in 1 Chronicles 9:23-27.  They were primarily guards.
• The rest of this chapter explains the arrangement of those who were assigned to the treasury and to the judicial system throughout the nation.
• These assignments were finalized in David's fortieth year on the throne, which would be his last (1 Kings 2:10-12).  David is believed to have died around 971 B.C.

Questions to consider:

1. As David nears the end of his reign, what are we seeing develop in the nation of Israel?  What can we learn about the way Israel had been run and is now being established organizationally?  How have things progressed throughout David's reign?
2. In what ways does it appear that David is seeking to finish well?  As he nears the end of his reign and life, what is he trying to do for the sake of the people he leads and for those who would come after him?
3. We know that things will finish well after Christ's return, but how can we love God and love our neighbors (Our families, church, community, etc.) by finishing well in the mean-time?  What legacies can we leave behind as we all await the return of Christ?

Today's passage: 1 Chronicles 25:1-31

Helpful thoughts:

• In today's passage, David and other leaders set up and organize the musical worship for the nation of Israel.
• These musical worship leaders would prophecy through their lyrics.
  • The word prophecy does not mean only getting direct revelations from the Lord.  Prophets did not simply order up a new prophetic word from God.
  • This “prophesying” through music would mean the lyrics to their songs would be communicators of the truth of God's Word!
• The twenty-four divisions of musicians correlates with the number of Levitical assignments from the previous chapter.

Questions to consider:

1. What does this passage teach us concerning the importance of lyrical content in our music?  What is the purpose of music in congregational worship?  When we gather together for worship, what kinds of things should we be singing about?  How can we ensure our songs glorify God and minister faithfully to one another? (Colossians 3:16)
2. What does the end of verse 1 call this music ministry?  Was it a fulfilment of the desire of Asaph to express his talents…or something else?  With any talents and abilities the Lord gives to us, what are we to use them for?  And for whom?
3. How does the second half of verse 8 give us a good model for our music?  What age groups were involved?  What were those who had experience in ministry doing for others who would come after them?  Where are you serving in the church?  How can you be proactively training others to serve as well?

Today's passage: 1 Chronicles 24:1-31

Helpful thoughts:

• The account of Nadab and Abihu can be found in Leviticus 10:1-3.
• Priestly duties were divided into 24 divisions among the descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar.
  • They served for two weeks a year or for a month every two years.
    • This time frame is noted in the service of John the Baptist's father, Zechariah (Luke 1:8-9).
• In order to divide the duties, they cast lots and trusted the sovereign will of the Lord.

Questions to consider:

1. Though the New Testament never commands or encourages the use of casting lots for making decisions today, what can the church learn about they way we function from a passage like this? (1 Corinthians 14:40)  If we approach things haphazardly, what might the results be?
2. Had there not been order and direction given, what might have resulted between the families of the Levites?  How could their relationships have been affected?
3. How would dividing the responsibilities help ensure the work was done well?  If only half, or a quarter, or even fewer of the Levites did the work, what would have resulted?  What would become of the quality of their work?  What might happen to their joy in service, etc.?

Today's passage: 1 Chronicles 23:1-32

Helpful thoughts:

• There was a major difference between this head count and the one from chapter 21.  In chapter 21, David was motivated by his pride.  Today, he is motivated for service.
  • Man looks at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)
• In David's old age, he installs his son, whom God had chosen, as the next king and ensures the Levites are serving the Lord as He had commanded.  They will be serving and ready to move into the Temple upon its completion.
• One interesting note: David didn't just play music, or write music, but he also invented new musical instruments! (Amos 6:5)

Questions to consider:

1. What is David doing as he nears the end of his physical life?  What legacy is he seeking to leave?
2. What parts of our lives leave behind a legacy?  How can God use our repentance, obedience, words of instruction, etc. for those who will come behind us for the good of others and for His glory?
3. What part does the gospel play in leaving a legacy?  As important as our actions are, how can we encourage those who come behind us to remember that “Being just like ______” is not the gospel?  How does the gospel shape our actions in such a way that we would leave behind an even greater legacy?

Today's passage: 1 Chronicles 22:1-19

Helpful thoughts:

• The events of chapter 21 had David convinced that this would be the sight of the Temple.
• David gives a charge to the workers, to Solomon, and to the leaders of Israel concerning the building of the Temple.
• David desired discretion (Wisdom) and understanding for Solomon.  The fruits of those things being obedience.
  • True strength and courage, wisdom and understanding lead us to follow hard after God.  They will not lead to disobedience and rebellion.

Questions to consider:

1. How would humility serve Solomon well after hearing these verses?  Would a young, inexperienced soon-to-be king generally like hearing their dad tell others that they are young and inexperienced?  But, what was David's desire for Solomon in the days ahead?
2. Was the building of this Temple all on David?  All on Solomon?  What was it going to take to do this with excellence?  What will it take to continue building First Baptist Church?  Who all is responsible to help in the cause?
3. Why is obedience the fruit of wisdom and understanding?  What does the world like to call obedient people?  Who gets to decide what is right and wrong, good or bad?  Are those who disobey God truly free (John 8:34-36)?  Who is truly free?

Today's passage: 1 Chronicles 21:1-30

Helpful thoughts:

• Satan can tempt.  But it is never right to say, “The Devil made me do it.”
  • Satan tempted David, and David did what David wanted to do.
    • God had built David's name, this act of a census was David's way of taking the credit for himself.
  • 2 Samuel 24:1 even includes the component of God's sovereign will in the whole matter.
    • Like in the book of Job, even Satan cannot do anything that God does not allow.
  • By God's grace we are able to submit to the Lord and resist the Devil, and when we do, he will flee (James 4:7).
• In a rare occurrence, God allows David to choose between three options for consequence.
  • We can choose our sin, we don't usually get to choose our consequences.
  • David didn't get to choose whether or not there would be a consequence, but when he did choose, he chose the prospect of the Lord's mercy.
• This property which was purchased became the location of the Temple Solomon would later build.

Questions to consider:

1. Why would it be right to say that Joab was truly loving David by telling him what he wanted to do was wrong?  (Ephesians 4:11-16)  What was Joab trying to save David and Israel from?  What would have been true if David had heeded Joab's loving rebuke?
2. Ornan the Jebusite was given a Hebrew name, this gives evidence (Along with his actions) that he had become a worshiper of God!  How does his place in this narrative serve to contrast the actions of David?  Is the worship of Jesus Christ in our blood or bought with His own?
3. What leadership principles can we learn from this passage?

Today's passage: 1 Chronicles 20:1-8

Helpful thoughts:

• This passage records the time period where David's sin with Bathsheba and her husband Uriah took place. (2 Samuel 11-12)
• Remember, this chapter is included with the previous chapters, giving some detail to the Lord's promises fulfilled.  David had victory over his enemies.
• David was not the only man who killed a giant man from Gath.  The same Lord provided the strength every time.

Questions to consider:

1. Why would it make sense for the chronicler (The writer of this book) to not mention the accounts of David and Bathsheba, or even of Absalom's revolt?  What was the main point of these chapters in the context of this book?
2. Look back to 1 Samuel 17:37, 43-46.  What would these victories over these mighty warriors of Gath continually communicate to the people of Israel?  Who was giving them the victory?  What might they have been tempted to think since David's relatives were the men who “won” the fights?
3. It is important to remember that the “giants” in our lives are not finances, self-esteem, weight-loss, or anything else like that… The greatest “giant” in our life is sin.  What promises of victory has God made to us? (1 Corinthians 15:54-58)